Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois Undercard, Tale of the Tape & Breakdown

Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois collide in an all-action domestic showdown for the IBF world heavyweight title, a belt relinquished earlier this year by a common foe neither could best, Oleksandr Usyk.

Anthony Joshua’s career is already storied and impressive, having won all the belts but the WBC multiple times. That said, it’s likely this IBF strap has some sentimental value, as it was the first world title he was able to get his hands on after a dominant victory over Charles Martin in 2016. Fast forward to now and AJ has had some highs and lows in his career, but as of late his trajectory has only been upwards. After his second loss to the once and future undisputed champion Usyk, in which there is no shame, Aj has fought and won four times, adding a few frames to his highlight reel. Though not even in his top 3 achievements in boxing, his 2nd round obliteration of former UFC champion, Francis Ngannou would spread Joshua’s intimidating visage to the social media feeds of even the most casual of combat sports enthusiasts worldwide, and viewed by just about everyone with internet access. 

Daniel Dubois has had some ups and downs of his own, and like Joshua, took his lumps and has been gaining ground and building himself back up to a frightening form. In 2020 when Dubois lost his first fight to Joe Joyce due to a broken orbital bone, things looked grim for the young man’s career. Despite what some fans and critics would say after the loss, he proved to the world that failure isn’t in coming up short, but giving in to doubts and giving up. Dubois returned to the ring to knock out his next four opponents, winning the WBA regular title along the way and setting himself up to face none other than the aforementioned Usyk. Though he was stopped in that fight he acquitted himself well and wasted no time in returning to face Jarrell Miller which he won by TKO in the last few seconds of the fight, his best win to that point. That’s when he met Hrgovic as an underdog for the IBF Interim title in a back and forth fight that ended in Dubois having his hand raised and yet another “best win to that point”. 

That brings us to where we are now. Two battle-tested knockout artists who have both faced adversity and redeemed themselves with determination, skill, and their own two hands, facing one another for not only a world heavyweight title, but for domestic supremacy.

The Owens Opinion: The whole card is a banger and a solid example of what boxing in the UK has to offer. I somewhat expect AJ to come out on top as he has never stopped improving his game in all these years, but I’m not putting any euros on it. I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to underestimating Dubois. I have a feeling it’ll be a back and forth dog fight where both men are hurt at one point or another but we won’t know until it happens of course. Regardless it’s going to be a fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon stateside.